Nowadays, bridges have turned from an engineering structure connecting opposite banks of water bodies or gorges into real design masterpieces. The architectural creation that has recently appeared in Uruguay was no exception. The bridge, forming a ring in the middle of a very tiny lagoon, caused bewilderment among most people, because such configuration requires much more investment and is rarely used as a busy automotive crossings.
Uruguay boasts picturesque nature and an abundance of blue lagoons. It was through one coastal reservoir that a bridge was built, which connected two departments with the administrative centers of the same name - Rocha and Maldonado. Despite the fact that the Garzon Lagoon is very small and shallow, getting to the other side was a big problem for motorists. Many years ago, a ferry crossing was organized through it, but this did not save the situation at all, because in one trip the ferry delivered only 2 cars.
For this reason, the authorities thought about building a bridge that would significantly increase passenger traffic and made life easier for residents of the coastal zone and tourists, who have become much more active in last years. According to Novate.ru, the design and construction process was controlled by the Government of the country, which for many years could not come to an agreement on the configuration of the bridge.
The most logical and cheapest option was to build a bridge in a straight line in order to speed up construction and significantly reduce the cost of the facility. But the progressive representatives of the authorities took a completely different path. They decided that in such a picturesque place there should only be a circular bridge, citing the fact that the speed of movement along such a trajectory would be significantly limited. And this, in turn, will allow drivers and passengers to pay attention to the picturesque natural landscape and enjoy the trip.
At the same time, one-way traffic is provided along the circular canvas, which significantly increases the view. In addition, there are footpaths on the bridge, which should turn into an attractive place for sightseeing walks over the water surface of the lagoon. And if we add to this the safety, which will be guaranteed at a speed of 30 km / h, then we can say that the authorities really care about their citizens and travelers.
Interesting fact: The design of the Laguna Garzon Bridge ring bridge was commissioned by the New York-based Uruguayan architect Rafael Vignoli. He managed to design the crossing so that from any point on it a breathtaking panoramic view would open up, which would not be blocked by any obstacles (supports, high railings, towers, etc.). It is also worth noting that the bridge consists of two stripes, which form a circle with a diameter of 103 m in the center of the lagoon. Now, in order to get from one bank to another, you need to overcome only 323 meters, and this is taking into account the circular movement.
Compensating for long deliberation and approval of the project, the bridge was built in just 1 year, although there were also scandals. When a ferry cruised between the shores, environmentalists constantly protested about the pollution of coastal waters, but since the construction of the bridge could cause irreparable damage to the ecosystem, environmentalists are even stronger intensified.
Environmentalists held pickets in an attempt to stop the construction of the crossing, because the lagoon was the main habitat for most species of birds and other wildlife. But the prudent architect carefully considered all the risks and minimized the impact on the environment as much as possible, which cooled the ardor of conservationists. However, now they should think about the impact of the exhaust gases of thousands of cars passing through the bridge during the day. However, it should be understood that such facilities are extremely necessary in coastal regions that thrive only at the expense of the tourism industry.
I would like to note that the bridge has become an elegant decoration of the area, even despite the fact that it took 450 tons of steel, 40 km of cables and cables, and 3.5 thousand tons to create the structure. cubic meters of concrete. Such an array of materials did not affect the appearance of Laguna Garzon Bridge in any way, it still seems light, one might even say soaring over the water surface.
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Remarkable: As already noted, the authorities deliberately complicated the project even though the cost of the circular bridge was $ 12 million. According to experts, during the construction of a straight-line crossing through Laguna Garzon, this sum would have amounted to no more than 5 million "green". Although the country's treasury has not emptied much, after all, $ 10 million. the construction of the original ferry was allocated by a famous businessman, developer and philanthropist - Eduardo Costantini.
Modern bridges are not always built because of the vital necessity, more and more often you can find ferries that were built as a bait for eco-tourism lovers and for extreme lovers. How it happened in Portugal, where it recently opened the longest suspension bridge in the world, designed to attract not only tourists to the picturesque region, but also to try to revive endangered settlements.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/140621/59343/
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